‘Gastrosexuals’ on the rise

An increasing number of men are learning to cook or polishing their culinary skills to make them more attractive to romantic partners, according to new research, which dubs them “gastrosexuals.” A study cited by London’s Daily Mail found that half of the people surveyed said being able to cook makes a person more attractive, and a quarter of 18- to 34-year-old men say cooking is a good seduction tool.

The study also found that the number of families in which men help in the kitchen has more than doubled, to 66 percent, since the post-World War II era. Also, about 25 percent of women younger than 34 say their man is the better cook, and 20 percent of women of all ages agreed.

More time in the kitchen doesn’t carry over to other household chores: Men spend an average of four minutes a day — vs. women’s 20 — washing clothes, according to the study.

The survey defined the average gastrosexual male as 25 to 44 years old, “upwardly mobile, well travelled and cooks for their own pleasure and the praise of others.”

My husband is a much better cook than I am, and it was a quite a plus for him when we met. I just love that he feels comfortable in the kitchen, and really enjoys cooking. And, selfishly, I love that I don’t feel like we’re back in the 50′s with all of the cooking left to the woman just because she’s a woman. I do agree with kerosena though, the word doesn’t do it justice.